Day: March 3, 2008

Isn’t it magnanimous of Gov. Charlie Crist to hold another Democratic primary in Florida? I doubt it.

Behind the generosity with taxpayer money, which the electorate recently voted to cut drastically, might be a big, honking ulterior motive. Charlie is widely favored to be selected as John McCain’s running mate. John McCain stands to gain the longer the Democratic side remains unsettled. If Florida holds a new election (an assinine idea, in my view), the ball could very well be bandied about right through the convention. Meanwhile, the McCain message can be broadcast loud, clear, and interference-free.

I already voted in the Florida primary. I had a full slate of candidates from which to choose, even though I had not been allowed an opportunity to hear or see them campaign, meet any of them, or get their views on issues related to my state. But that was Howard Dean’s doing, and it’s over.

If Crist succeeds in holding another election, besides being a huge waste of funds at a time when essential services to the most needy and at-risk residents are being cut, it will be a callous political move. I have no doubt our Republican-led legislature will happily comply once Charlie explains it to them, but it’s the wrong thing to do. Period.

Conventional wisdom has it that the primaries tomorrow in Texas, Ohio, Vermont and Rhode Island are do or die for Hillary Clinton’s presidential ambitions. That is probably true but amidst all the Clinton bashing in the media, and from some members of her own party, it is refreshing to hear a little balance.

Michael Goodwin of the New York Daily News has a question about Obama: Can he close the deal?

This is Barack Obama’s third chance to knock her out. If he can’t close the deal this time, maybe he can’t close the deal, period.

Either the third time is the charm for him, or it could be strike three against him. Any result tomorrow that doesn’t finish her off lets her argue that Democratic voters’ love affair with Obama was just one of those flings. She’ll say buyer’s remorse has set in, and it’s time to get serious about winning the White House.

She’ll also bring up her wins in the disputed Michigan and Florida primaries and repeat her vow to fight for those delegates.

Given the wacky past two months, those arguments would keep her alive. They start with the claim that even a split decision tomorrow would fit a pattern showing voters can’t commit to the Illinois rookie.

Obama’s two other failed attempts, according to Goodwin, were in New Hampshire and on Super Tuesday. Prior to this primary season, his track electoral record was spotty. He won his U.S. Senate seat as well as the Illinois Senate seat without facing serious competition. He lost in a primary run to unseat Rep. Bobby Rush, the former Black Panther.

The odds favor Obama tomorrow, and beating the Clintons would be huge, but if Hillary Clinton survives tomorrow, even with a split decision, as Goodwin says, “She is like an incumbent, and the longer the race goes on, the more she benefits just by surviving.”